Terns and Shorebirds

I didn't make it out to the tip for very long today (I was mostly bouncing between the hawk platform and the feeders) but here's Phil's report.

Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy in the AM, sunny in the afternoon. Temperatures into the mid 50s with winds starting from the S and shifting WNW by the end of the day.

Waterbird Count: 76 Red-breasted Mergansers, 57 Common Loons, 35 White-winged Scoters, 18 Common Mergansers, along with 2 Red-throated Loons, 2 Mallards, and 1 Wood Duck (first in a few weeks).

Shorebirds: Good numbers and diversity. 11 Sanderlings, 6 Semipalmated Plovers, 6 peep sp., 5 dowitcher sp., 2 Red Knots and 2 Piping Plovers were the highlights.

Gulls: 79 Herring, 4 Bonaparte's, 2 Ring-billed.

Terns: 48 Common Terns, 1 Caspian Tern.

Other Sightings: European Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeaks, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks among others at the feeders. Later there was a Red-headed Woodpecker (which I missed). John had another Swainson's and another pale Red-tailed Hawk, check the hawk blog for more info on those birds.

Forecast for tomorrow is for sunny skies and temperatures into the high 50s. Winds NW 10-15 mph. Looks like weather is really going to cooperate for Memorial Day weekend, hope to see all you birders out and about!

Andy N
Waterbird Counter